The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1887-09-15

anu luAl utI tuuukuto UIb ClCH uuN ulnl
with the solution OF her dark enigma. For
the moment she has forgotten her environ
ment, and she murmurs her vain protest
against the-to us--unknown culprit whose
Implicitly, however exercised, has plunged
her into an abyss OF shame. Then she
stammers an apology, accepts mechanically
at Mr.. Huntleyis hands the shabby bag
into which he has gathered, by her per-
mission, tho dishonored treasures, AID re-
tires question II in all Renford there Ia n
heavier heart; and wonder, with eager
palpitating interest, who is 'JaclI,n and
what is the precise nature OF thenefarious
trick he has perpetrated.
Mr. Euntley can explain little-only that
Miss Raine and her father twho is said TO
be an artist are the new people at Bristol
Cottage.
The second Of these pictures, imprinted
so indelibly on the retina Of my mind, is
widely different in motif and in detail. The
place is an ambulance tent, pitched, literally
enough ae some OF us think, in the wilder
ness The Egyptian troubles that began
with the riots and rebellion at Alexandria
have eliminated in the Soudan war. Cor
don--bravest OF the brave-has reached
Khartoum. ElTeb has been fought, and
aud our troops are on their way back from
Tokar to Trinkitat l am with them in the
capacity of army surgeon, and there nre
times when satirise bitterly the longing
for adventure and idle dreams OF distinction
to which am indebted for the appointment
hold. But self reproaches are useless.
The tent is tenanted by four men, three OF
whom have been wounded in surprise
skirmish-a mere outpost affair; the other
is the victim Of camp accident The most
serious case is that Of private called
Eastleigh. He has been badly dealt with
by dying Arab, spearman, has lost much
blood, and himself believes that his last
hour is near. have done for him what is
| possible, have attended 10 the needs Of his
companions in misfortune, and have lin
gered by Easileigh's side TO test yet again
the security and sufficiency Of his bandages.
What it is in the poor fellows face that
strikes me with a sense OF familiarity, or
! at least Of previous acquaintance, can not
guess. But even IN these dubious half
| lights, am persuaded that some reminis-
cence should answer to the impression
thus created. Only--it fails to do so.
.Doctorw Eastleigh family means.
"Well. my ladl" / respond.
"Tell me plainly. Have n chancep
81 decidedly hope so,n reply, evasively.
Sand hope isn't expectation he says,
with a curious smile.
| am silent dare not cquivocate in such
case as this; and | recognize, too, that,
though but private soldier, Eastleigh is a
man of education, and quick to seize the
meaning of accents as well as Of words.
81 take it, you and form the same opln-
| ion, doctor,n he says, between two terrible
paroxysms of pain: "and the world won't
lose much If l do 20; but--but-I wish
you'd do me favor. L can depend on you p
"Any thing that is in my power, East,
leigh
| "rye father living in England, and he
and quarreled. / was to blame. ! was q
| sad scapegrace. But he thinks to this day
/ robbed him. didn't; 1t was my cousin
| Dick. Find him, and tell him that. The
| address,
But the exeriion is too much; the patient
relapses into Inconsistencies, and is re-
stored with difficulty. | forbid further
talk.
~ quite understand what 1t is that you
wish of me, and will do as you request, y
| say. "The address, shall find, il re-
quire it, with your kit ! hope 1t will be
unnecessary for me to search, and tina,
| you'll live to explain TO your father face To
face Now, silencel Dickson will watch
and send for me If wantod.n And / go out
into the darkness OF the plain and muse
over solitary cigar until joined by u couple
of regimental comrades. can not forget
the face of wounded soldier.
In describing the third OF these mental
pictures, must explain that am now nc
longer half civilian and half soldier
Military stations and barrack hospitals
know Inc no more. A slender Inheritance
has come TO me from a dear old maiden
aunt, the cheer OF whose gentle encourage
ments / woald to this day rather have had
than her money, and with 1t have bought
partnership with an ancient college friend
of my fathers. Dr. Hildreth has treated
me generously, for the sake of Guild lang
syne; he and his wife-they have no chill
dren-are delightful people and Great
| Gamble is quaint, healthy, well-behayed
East Anglican town, with many another hui
morous incongruity about it beside that OF
its name. Existence here is hum-drum-
granted. But am content-more than
content, since have been honored with
the friendship of Mrs. Bristowo. Margaret
she is Mrs. Hildreth's kinswoman, many
degrees removed, and thus have learned
the name-i5 widow, and had heard her
! sad and romantic story before / met her.
Her husband bore that title scarce an hour;
he fell in a fit at the BRIDES feet as he was
leaving the church door, and was dead
man before succor could arrive The med
ical evidence showed that he was the vic
tim OF heart disease, to which the excite
ment OF the day and the hour had admins
tered q fatal impetus. So grievous a shock
would abundantly account for the gravity
which seems marked feature of Mrs.
Bristowe's character. Not that she is
gloomy; her ago forbds that for she is
young stili--not ive-and-twenty, Mrs. Hill.
dreth says-and youth has recuperativo
power which will struggle back to sun
shine, however crushed by sorrow. Yet
there is seriousness in her mirth At
least think so, and it suits well with her
stately beauty.
The current of an emotion which l recog
nize as love hurries me on. VIII Mrs.
Bristowe consent to be my wifel propose
TO put the question to the test this very
evening. 1t may be shall end the present
narrative with Margarets reply.
Now for my third reyerle picture The
scene is metropolitan railway station
The place Is thronged with very various
sorts and conditions of men, for detach.
ments of the brave fellows who marched tc
relieve Gordon-and alas marched in vain
are arriving, and the London crowd is
there to welcome them. l am ten minutes
carly for the train wish 10 catch, and the
departure platform seems almost deserted
by comparison with the stir and hustle
elsewhere. stand idly by, and watch (
body OF tho bronzed heroes file past on the
opposite side OF the narrow cutting. Those
round me set up cheer, in which | hest
tate TO join; for do ! not belong to thos,
} who are the subjects OF the ovation. Theii
dangers and privations have shared.
am not quite alone in my silence. There Il
at my left hand an old man, who stands
rigid as statue, but with eyes blazing
} with a strange, fiery eagerncss, as the mcl
gather into military order and tramp away
through the station gates in the track O